WAR ON POVERTY
About Us
The War on Poverty began with President Lyndon Johnson’s visit to Tom Fletcher’s front porch in Martin County, Kentucky on April 24, 1964. The image of President Johnson kneeling on Fletcher’s porch would become the iconic image and symbol of the War on Poverty. The historic initiatives of the War on Poverty sought to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions in America’s poorest communities by increasing the federal government’s investments in education, health care and community development. The War on Poverty has made a difference in the lives of thousands of Americans, but for the rural communities of Central Appalachia poverty for many of its citizens is still a harsh reality.
Unearthing Opportunities
Realizing that more efforts needed to be made a group of Martin Countians came together on the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty in April 2014 and held an event called “Dream Martin County.” The event was to launch a new kind of anti-poverty effort that would be lead locally with faith that God would join with those living in Appalachia to transform the region. The event challenged Appalachians to commit themselves to the call to dream about the future of Martin County and to pursue those dreams with the same mountain determination their ancestors had to survive the Great Depression, to fight and win world wars and to mine the coal that fueled a nation.
The work that was birthed in Martin County in 2014 is spreading across the region. The founders of Dream Martin County have renamed the movement and the event “Dream Appalachia” to recognize the expanding regional focus of the efforts. Though there will be events in local schools, a leadership prayer meeting and meetings to mark the 60th Anniversary of the War on Poverty, the focus of this year’s effort will be the First Annual Dream Appalachia Poverty Conference. A convening of experts, educators, policymakers and community leaders dedicated to addressing the unique challenges we face in Central Appalachia.
OUR PARTNERS
